Adam Walsh's Murderer Still At Large Even As Cold Case Continues To Cool

By: Sasha Michaels | March 10, 2017

It is a parent's worst fear to have anything bad happen to their child. One parent's worst fear came true when their child disappeared from a Florida mall in 1981. Adam Walsh, only 6 years old was abducted from the mall-- the last time and place his parents saw him alive. A massive search ensued to find Adam. In a gruesome turn of events, Adam's head was found over 100 miles away. His body was never found and the case remained cold.

It was not until ten years later when notorious serial killer Jeffery Dahmer was arrested that someone was convicted for Adam's death. After seeing Dahmer's mug shot on the television a witness came forward and told the police he had seem Dahmer with Adam at the mall. Two more witnesses called the police and told them that they had seen someone fitting Dahmer's description taking a boy to a blue van. Dahmer had a blue van and also had many severed heads in his home. Because of all this evidence, police were able to charge Dahmer with Adam's death.

However, to this day, Adam's father does not believe that Dahmer killed his son. Adam's father and the host of "America's Most Wanted" says it does not make sense for a number of reasons. First of all, Dahmer owned up to all of his murders except Adam's. He was already serving multiple consecutive life sentences, so he had no reason to lie about Adam's death. Secondly, another serial killer, Ottis Toole, admitted to killing Adam. Unfortunately his confession was not valid because he recanted soon after. Lastly, one of Toole's companions told law enforcement that he saw Toole with Adam's head.

With so many conflicting stories it is difficult to know who really killed Adam. Dahmer was killed in prison so he cannot be questioned anymore. Ottis Toole also died in 1996, giving investigators another (literal) dead end. Even though the case is cold, Adam's father continues to search for the truth and for justice for his son.